properly enough

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "properly enough" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is done to a satisfactory degree or standard, but not necessarily to perfection. Example: "The project was completed properly enough to meet the deadline, even if it wasn't flawless."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

I raised you properly!" "Enough!" her son yelled.

The New Yorker

If Mr. Rock flogged Hollywood properly enough, the Oscars — along with the academy's reforms — might come across as a kind of public penance.

The New York Times

These models have to simulate the present situation properly enough to provide a good quality forecast to satisfy both local urban and global environmental issues.

Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences

Locke writes that we have a faculty of "Perception of the Operation of our own Mind" which, "though it be not Sense, as having nothing to do with external Objects; yet it is very like it, and might properly enough be call'd internal Sense" (1690/1975, 105, italics suppressed).

SEP

As a lover of my country (but not as much of its sometimes adolescent and short-sighted mentality, which I struggle to comprehend), I have often pulled at my hair in frustration to see so much beauty, power and potential, yet so little practical, positive effort to get things lined up properly enough so that they don't just get started but continue to work and blossom.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Typing on tiny buttons, squinting at a list of links and clicking through to a page that won't display properly is enough to test anyone's patience.

The New York Times - Tech

During the next few days, I surprised myself by actually arguing with people in Sandpoint about whether they were doing Transition properly — with enough intensity, given the stakes.

The New York Times - Magazine

But recently I purchased washed chinos in different colors from J. Crew, mostly because whenever I find something that fits me properly, sure enough a designer will do away with that style the following season.

The New York Times

They chose to study aftershocks because there are thousands of them, and their statistical theory needs lots of data to work properly.Sure enough, aftershocks were found to congregate in the regions of increased stress as predicted by the model, while in the regions of reduced stress (called "stress shadows") the number of aftershocks was very small.

The Economist

Thampi said most of the usage so far is in programming classes and workshops, as well as among hobbyists, because Nitrous.IO is "not properly mature enough" for most companies to rely on it.

TechCrunch

Studying places that have seen the failures of democratic governments — disregarding whether democracy was functioning properly — is enough to convince one that consensus and transparency might not always be the answer.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "properly enough" when you want to convey that something has been done well enough to fulfill a requirement or achieve a specific purpose, but not necessarily perfectly. It implies a pragmatic assessment of adequacy rather than striving for excellence.

Common error

Avoid using "properly enough" when the context demands a higher standard of performance or quality. In situations where precision, excellence, or perfection are expected, opt for stronger, more affirmative phrasing to convey a higher degree of accomplishment.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "properly enough" functions as an adverbial modifier, indicating the degree to which an action is performed. It suggests that the action is carried out to a level that is satisfactory or adequate, without necessarily implying perfection or excellence. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "properly enough" is a phrase used to indicate that something is done adequately, meeting the necessary requirements but not necessarily to a perfect degree. Ludwig AI confirms it's grammatically correct, though not very frequent in usage. It is most commonly found in news, media and scientific writing, and its neutral register makes it suitable for various contexts. Remember to use it when adequacy is the key criterion, and consider stronger alternatives when excellence is required.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sufficiently well

Focuses more on the degree of skill or quality achieved.

adequately done

Emphasizes that the action was performed to a satisfactory, but perhaps not exceptional, standard.

satisfactorily executed

Highlights the successful completion of a task or process.

correctly implemented

Focuses on the accuracy and precision of the implementation.

appropriately handled

Indicates that something was dealt with in a suitable or fitting manner.

competently managed

Suggests a level of skill and efficiency in the handling of a situation.

effectively addressed

Emphasizes that a problem or issue was dealt with in a way that produced the desired result.

decently performed

Implies an acceptable, though not outstanding, level of performance.

passably completed

Indicates that something was finished to a minimum acceptable standard.

serviceably fulfilled

Suggests that a need or requirement was met in a functional, though not necessarily impressive, way.

FAQs

How can I use "properly enough" in a sentence?

Use "properly enough" to indicate that something is done to a satisfactory degree, meeting the necessary requirements without necessarily being perfect. For example: "The report was completed properly enough to meet the deadline."

What are some alternatives to "properly enough"?

You can use alternatives like "sufficiently well", "adequately done", or "satisfactorily executed", depending on the context.

Is "properly enough" the same as "perfectly"?

No, "properly enough" implies that something is just good enough, whereas "perfectly" suggests it's flawless. "Properly enough" focuses on meeting a requirement, not exceeding it.

When is it inappropriate to use "properly enough"?

Avoid using "properly enough" in situations where a high degree of skill or precision is expected. It's better suited for contexts where meeting a minimum standard is acceptable, rather than striving for excellence.